Super-Fast Broadband Via the Sewer System

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Erik Cecil <erik.cecil () gmail com>
> Date: May 12, 2008 11:48:14 AM EDT
> To: David Farber <dave () farber net>
> Subject: Re: [IP] Super-Fast Broadband Via the Sewer System

> Dave,
>
> This has been tried a number of times by a number of companies,  
> including Silver Spring, MD - based CityNet Comm'n, which at one  
> time had promised to install fiber throughout Albuquerque, NM and  
> Indianapolis, IN.  (Here's a 2001 article: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0IGK/is_13_15/ai_76939065 
> ; City of Portland did a study in 2001 - pictures of the robots are  
> interesting http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=52134 
> ).  The company used robots to clean the sewers, line them were  
> necessary, and install brackets into which they mounted conduit.   
> Another company, Stream Intelligent Networks was also active with  
> similar technology, though a quick scan reveals little activity  
> since 2001 (see e.g., http://www.canadait.com/cfm/index.cfm?It=102&Id=1328&Se=2&Lo=2 
>  and the URL appears to have moved on to other uses.  http://www.stream.ca/ 
> ).  Then there's always Google's TiSP system, which surfaced on or  
> about April 1, 2007 if memory serves correct.  http://www.google.com/tisp/install.html 
> .  Nevertheless, blogsphere seems to love the idea (University of  
> Aberdeen appears to be installing fiber in the sewers -- http://fiberopticnews.blogspot.com/2007/08/ftts-fiber-through-sewer.html 
> ).  I'd be curious if anyone has actually installed such a system,  
> at what cost, whether they are obtaining reasonable building access  
> in commercial areas (i.e. where is the hand-off w/in a building;  
> what access is obtained to building riser & distribution), total  
> fiber count, how collocation / power handled, local/regional  
> interconnection, etc.
>
> All in all, not a bad idea, but like BPL, perhaps the interest and  
> articles may be inversely proportional to actual traction in the  
> market.  Whether that's a technology or an economic/political  
> question is another matter as well.  So far, technology hasn't  
> overcome the economics of last-mile overbuild, but maybe Sprint/ 
> Nextel/Clearwire WiMax will fix it.  Who knows?
>
> Regards,
>
> Erik Cecil
>
> On Mon, May 12, 2008 at 3:17 AM, David Farber <dave () farber net> wrote:
> This was proposed for ChicagoNet while I was at the FCC. Not sure  
> what happened to that effort. djf
>
> ________________________________________
> From: Ken Deifik [kenneth.d () adelphia net]
> Sent: Sunday, May 11, 2008 8:53 PM
> To: David Farber
> Subject: Super-Fast Broadband Via the Sewer System
>
> Super-Fast Broadband Via the Sewer System
> http://ecoworldly.com/2008/05/11/super-fast-broadband-via-the-sewer-system/
> Written by Pem Charnley
> Published on May 11th, 2008
> Posted in Great Britain
>
> Bournemouth, UK, is often mocked by many of the British for the  
> average age
> of its citizens. In short, a seaside resort where many go to die.  
> Jack Dee
> once quipped that the shop windows are all fitted with bi-focals to  
> allow
> passers-by to ascertain what lies within.
>
> But the citizens, it seems, are having the last laugh as it has been
> reported this week that the town is to be the first in the UK to  
> make use
> of the sewer system in a whole new way.
>
> Rather than rely on the rather un-environmentally friendly process of
> digging up swathes of countryside and road to lay cables, H2O  
> Networks Ltd
> have been called in for the gig.
>
> As is so often the case, simple ideas seem to have manifest benefits  
> and
> using sewer systems to lay fibre optic cables is a case in point.
>
> As already stated, there is no need to dig up roads.
>
> Conventional cables are normally laid a mere 45 cm below ground.  
> Utilising
> the sewer systems means that the cables lie a full 10 metres below  
> ground,
> decreasing the likelihood of damage and increasing security in  
> potentially
> dangerous situations.
>
> And of course, with no digging needed, with the sewers already in  
> place,
> getting the fibre optics laid can be achieved far more quickly.
>
> So, as many Britons languish behind with slow internet access,  
> Bournemouth
> is casually reinventing itself as a rather fast, happening town, and  
> in the
> not-too-distant future, will enjoy internet speeds approaching  
> 100Mbps.
>
> The UK has 360,000 miles worth of sewers. As Elfed Thomas, CEO of H2O
> Networks says:
>
> "This is just the start of bringing next generation connectivity to  
> the UK."
>
>
>
>
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